Politico provides an inside look into how Merkel is approaching the refugee crisis. "Who are we to defend Christians around the world if we say we won’t accept a Muslim or a mosque in our country. That won’t do," she says, commenting on efforts to distinguish between Christian and Muslim refugees.

What does the Freedom Caucus want?

Apparently not necessarily a more conservative leader, but a more "democratic" (as in, power-sharing) one. NPR reports.

"How do you grieve a friendship when you never wanted it to die?"

A poignant essay by Laura Turner at Jezebel on grieving a lost friendship, and what happens when a best friend "will never heal all our wounds."

The beautiful truth about being a burden

Joni Tada writes on how her disability shapes her view of the family and herself--not as independent, but interdependent.